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China has achieved significant socio-economic progress and has become a key player on the international stage after several decades of open-door and reform policy. Looking beyond China's transformation, this book focusses on the theme of governance which is widely regarded as the next most critical element to ensure that China's growth remains sustainable. Today, China is confronted with a host of pressing challenges that call for urgent attention. These include the need to rebalance and restructure the economy, the widening income gaps, the poor integration of migrant populations in the urban areas, insufficient public housing and healthcare coverage, the seeming lack of political reforms and the degree of environmental degradation. In the foreign policy arena, China is likewise under pressure to do more to address global concerns while not appearing to be overly aggressive. The next steps that China takes would have a great deal to do with governance, in terms of how it tackles or fails to address the myriad of challenges, both domestic and foreign. China: Development and Governance, with 57 short chapters in total, is based on up-to-date scholarly research written in a readable and concise style. Besides China's domestic developments, it also covers China's external relations with the United States, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Non-specialists, in particular, should find this volume accessible and useful in keeping up with fast-changing developments in East Asia.

This book is the first attempt to conceptualize China's central-local relations from the behavioral perspective. Although China does not have a federalist system of government, the author believes that, with deepening reform and openness, China's central-local relations is increasingly functioning on federalist principles.

Globalization has thrown up challenges and opportunities which all countries have to grapple with. In his 2004 book, Yongnian Zheng explores how China's leaders have embraced global capitalism and market-oriented modernization. He shows that with reform measures properly implemented, the nation-state can not only survive globalization, but can actually be revitalized through outside influence. To adapt to the globalized age, Chinese leaders have encouraged individual enterprise and the development of the entrepreneurial class. The state bureaucratic system and other important economic institutions have been restructured to accommodate a globalized market economy. In rebuilding the economic system in this way, Zheng observes that Chinese leaders have been open to the importation of Western ideas. By contrast, the same leaders are reluctant to import Western concepts of democracy and the rule of law. The author argues that, ultimately, this selectivity will impede China's progress in becoming a modern nation state.

This paper identifies major trends in China in 2011 and analyzes their implications. The past year has witnessed a continuous rise of anger among social groups, as demonstrated in various forms of social protests. Chinese intellectuals are becoming increasingly politically conscious and calling for political reform. However, the leadership is trapped in the politics of power succession; uncertainty is widespread.

Using new research and considering a multidisciplinary set of factors, Contemporary China offers a comprehensive exploration of the making of contemporary China.  * Provides a unique perspective on China, incorporating newly published materials from within and outside China, in English and Chinese.  Discusses both the societal and economic aspects of China's development, and how these factors have affected Chinese elite politics * Includes coverage of recent political scandals such as the dismissal of Bo Xilai and the intrigue surrounding the 18th National Congress elections in late 2012 * Discusses the reasons for—and ramifications of—the gap that exists between western perceptions of China and China itself

China’s extraordinary economic boom since the late 1970s has been accompanied by massive urbanization, with the proportion of the population living in cities rising from 18% in 1978 to 54% in 2014.　 Currently the Chinese government has amongst its objectives the target to increase this to 60% by 2020, and also to improve the quality of China’s cities.　 This book examines a wide range of issues connected to China’s urbanization.　 It considers the many problems which have come with rapid urbanization, including urban housing problems, difficulties affecting rural migrants in urban areas, and a lack of social protection. It examines areas of current reform, including land reform, shanty town renewal and moves to address environmental problems. It explores governance issues, and throughout assesses how urbanization in China is likely to develop in future. Introduction ZHONG Yongnian, ZHAO Litao, and Sarah Y TONG Part I Development Policies and Industrial Development 1. Urbanization as a new engine for future growth Shantong Li, Jianwu He, Sanmang Wu, Huanxiang Li, and Fujia Li 2. Urbanization and urban-rural consumption divide Li Chunling Part II Social development in China’s urbanization 3. Making housing affordable in an urbanizing China Li Bingqin, 4. Re-assessing informal migration and urbanization in China Zhao Min and Chen Chen 5. Social programs for urban working class in China: unemployment insurance and minimum livelihood guarantee scheme Qian Jiwei Part III Land and rural development 6. The issue of land in China’s transition and urbanization Tao Ran 7. Urbanization and emerging urban land use patterns Ding Chengri and Yi Niu 8. Rural land consolidation in China Zhong Sheng, 9. Rural migration and rural development Zhang Li, Li Wei, and Cu Su 10. Why is a free and competitive land market indispensable for China to resolve the rural-urban duality through endogenous urbanization? James G Wen Part IV Urban planning and governance 11. Assessing China’s Shantytown regeneration program ZHOU Zhihua 12. Exploring the vision and strategy of intelligent cities in China Xu Qingrui, Wu Zhiyan, and Siyu Liu 13. Awakening environment consciousness challenging municipal governance Chen Gang Zheng Yongnian is Professor and Director of the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore. Zhao Litao is a Senior Research Fellow at the East Asian institute, National University of Singapore. Sarah Y. Tong is a Senior Research Fellow at the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore.

The aim of the book is to provide readers with an understanding of the important and emerging political, economic and social trends and challenges in East Asia in the coming years. There is urgency to conduct such a review of the state of East Asian affairs as the international and regional environments seemed to be headed towards greater uncertainty. At the international level, the European Union (EU) continues to grapple with its debt crisis with no clear resolution in sight. On the other side of the Atlantic, the US is gearing up for its presidential and congressional elections that will take place towards the end of 2012. The outcome of these elections would have implications for America's relations with countries in East Asia, particularly China. Already, in the run-up to these elections, potential candidates have whipped up anti-China sentiments or even called for tough anti-China measures to appeal their respective constituencies.

This volume is the first attempt to systematically analyze issues and challenges confronting the Taiwan Strait after the March 2004 election. The volume focuses on internal politics on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and their impact on cross-Strait ties, and international responses. It also reflects different perspectives, namely, China, the United States, Singapore and Taiwan. Consolidating these perspectives, the volume suggests directions for continued research on a potentially volatile area where many view as the world's next “hot spot”.

This edited volume is a compilation of the analyses written by East Asian Institute experts on Hong Kong since the handover. It covers most, if not all the important events that have taken place in Hong Kong since 1997, including its economic integration and relations with China, its governance conundrums, the Hong Kong identity and nation-building, the implementation of the minimum wage, and the elections from 2011-2012. The book's panoramic view of Hong Kong makes it a useful resource for readers who seek a broad understanding of the city and how it has evolved after its return to China. It also offers some glimpses into the direction Hong Kong is heading in its socio-economic relations with China at both the state and society levels, as well as its domestic political developments and the prospects for democratization.